By Ann Herrman
Richmond High School
(2002 Sengenberger Recipient)

Like was started last year, I would like to invite this year’s Ella Sengenberger Outstanding Adviser to come to the stage. This year’s winner is Lisa Morris from Connersville High School.

Looking at all the awards her students and publications have won should be enough to win her the recognition, but it is what students, parents, and school personell write about her that tells what really makes her one of Indiana’s best.

Her students write, “As a staff, we have received many honors, among them being named Hoosier Star for both newspaper and yearbook. We credit Ms. Morris with our success in publications and strongly believe she is worthy of this award.”

All her nomination forms express how Lisa turned the publications program from mediocrity back into an award winning program.

Carla Beard English department chair said, “Both the yearbook and newspaper consistently do better in competition than the basketball team and in Indiana, that’s no small accomplishment.”

Ashley Gross, the 2003 Indiana Students Journalist of the year and National runner-up wrote, “Lisa Morris completely changed my life. After 13 years of school she is definitely the best teacher I have ever had.”

Former students Carrie Howell wrote, “She shared her love for every aspect of the journalism field with me, and it is because of her that I am majoring in Journalism Graphics as a sophomore at Ball State. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life before I joined the school newspaper, the Clarion. “She went far beyond the boundaries of just being my teacher; she became my mentor and my life-long friend.”

Lisa also shares her knowledge and love of journalism with students from around the country by teaching workshops in the summer. She relates well with all types of students, and her patience in teaching Pagemaker to beginners is amazing.

Probably one of the most unselfish things she has done is to volunteer to teach part-time to keep journalism at Connersville High School. But those who know her know that she often puts in a full day in addition to working late hours, weekends, and proofing pages in the summer.

Joe Glowacki Director of Media Communications at Connersville said, “Lisa also works under “one-room schoolhouse” conditions since she has been forced to teach both the yearbook and newspaper production classes during one period.”

Her fellow staff members and administrators also recognize Lisa. “She leads by example offering suggestions and guidance, while letting her students learn and create independently,’ Vicky Long Connersville teacher said.

“Lisa is the role model that every teacher should aspire to and every administrator seeks,” John Brackemyre assistant principal Connersville said.

Finally Carla Beard wrote about Lisa Morris, “In the long run, the results are not limited to journalism. Somewhere a legal brief will be more readable. A church newsletter will look more professional. A business report will be revised once more. Lisa’s students understand that excellence is achieved not only by talent and training but also by dedication and effort.”

It is my privilege to introduce this year’s Ella Sengenbeger Adviser of theYear -- Lisa Morris.